Nonsuch Island Field Trip
The Nonsuch Island field trip was a special addition to this semester's syllabus and we were thrilled to visit this wonderful island. The boat trip was fun and we enjoyed swimming to shore. Once on the island, we were provided a special tour by a staff member of BIOS. Taking special note of the native and endemic species present on the island, we were also able to learn more about Nonsuch Island's history and transformation from an island used as a quarantine during the Yellow Fever plague to a nature reserve specifically designed to recreate Bermuda's original flora and fauna.
A special treat was a sighting of not one but two Bermuda Skink (Plestiodon longirostris), an elusive, endemic lizard species that is listed as a critically endangered species on the IUCN's list. According to Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, & Zoo's website, skinks are threatened by cats, littering (particularly glass bottles), and human destruction of natural habitats. Nonsuch Island provides a safe haven for these lizards to thrive and reproduce. Two longtail (White-tailed Tropicbird) nests were also discovered with a parent cautiously guarding the nest and incubating the egg.
Much more wildlife and plant life were spotted and enjoyed so we took lots of photos to capture each one. :)
A special treat was a sighting of not one but two Bermuda Skink (Plestiodon longirostris), an elusive, endemic lizard species that is listed as a critically endangered species on the IUCN's list. According to Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, & Zoo's website, skinks are threatened by cats, littering (particularly glass bottles), and human destruction of natural habitats. Nonsuch Island provides a safe haven for these lizards to thrive and reproduce. Two longtail (White-tailed Tropicbird) nests were also discovered with a parent cautiously guarding the nest and incubating the egg.
Much more wildlife and plant life were spotted and enjoyed so we took lots of photos to capture each one. :)
References
Conservation. (n.d.). Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo. Retrieved May 6, 2012, from https://bamz.org/conservation.php?id=13